In a dramatic turn of events, the involuntary manslaughter charges against actor Alec Baldwin were dismissed by a New Mexico judge on Friday. This decision came after Baldwin’s legal team accused prosecutors and police of concealing crucial evidence about the live round that tragically killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust” in 2021.
The courtroom saga reached its climax just three days into Baldwin’s trial when Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer agreed with the defense’s allegations of a “cover-up” by the prosecution, citing numerous missteps since the charges were first filed 18 months ago.
Tears flowed as the Emmy-award winning actor embraced his wife, Hilaria Baldwin, amidst emotional family members in the courtroom. Baldwin, who had been facing an unprecedented criminal prosecution for an on-set shooting, left the court in silence, flanked by his family.
“The deliberate and willful withholding of evidence by the state necessitates a dismissal with prejudice,” Judge Sommer declared, emphasizing the need to uphold the integrity of the judicial system.
Baldwin’s attorney, Alex Spiro, revealed that the Santa Fe sheriff’s office had seized live rounds in March but failed to include them in the investigation file or inform the defense. This revelation led to a fierce cross-examination of Corporal Alexandria Hancock, the lead investigator, who admitted the omission.
In a surprising twist, state prosecutor Erlinda Johnson resigned on Friday, marking the fourth prosecutor to leave the case. Lead prosecutor Kari Morrissey, defending herself from the witness stand, claimed no intention to mislead the court but struggled to explain discrepancies in the evidence.
Legal experts criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case, with one analyst stating, “The prosecution felt it had to cheat to get the result it wanted, showcasing the worst of our legal system.”
The tragic incident occurred in October 2021, when Baldwin, directed to point a revolver at Hutchins during filming, inadvertently discharged a live round. The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez, was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for her role in Hutchins’ death.
Complicating the case further, new evidence emerged when Troy Teske, a friend of Gutierrez’s stepfather, handed in live rounds to the sheriff’s office. While initial inspections suggested these rounds did not match those found on set, Baldwin’s defense team identified similarities, challenging the prosecution’s narrative.
The judge’s ire grew as it was revealed that the decision to separate Teske’s ammunition into a different case file involved Hancock, her supervisor, and the prosecution team. Morrissey’s alleged disparaging remarks about Baldwin added fuel to the fire, though she denied making them.
As the dust settles, questions linger about the implications for Gutierrez’s conviction, which remains under appeal. The case has left a lasting impact on Hollywood, marking the first on-set shooting death in nearly three decades and prompting calls for stricter safety protocols in the industry.
